L'Argent

Norbert enters his father's study to claim his monthly allowance, but his father grants only a small amount. He presses for more, arguing about a debt he owes a schoolmate and deserves better treatment. The tense exchange sets up escalating conflict between Norbert and his family.

Norbert tries to pawn his watch to a friend, who instead gives him a forged 500-franc note. The counterfeit becomes the seed for their later scheme as they test its acceptance.

The boys take the counterfeit notes to a photo shop and use them to buy a picture frame. The photo shop's co-manager scolds her partner for gullibility and she reminds him that two forged notes were accepted the previous week. He resolves to pass off all three forged notes at the next opportunity.

The forged notes are used to pay Yvon for delivering heating oil. This marks the first real transaction that props up the counterfeit scheme as it enters everyday commerce.

Yvon tries to pay his restaurant tab with the forged notes, but the waiter recognizes them as counterfeit. He is arrested, and at his court trial the photo shop owners lie to protect their employees, ultimately leaving Yvon with a reduced punishment but a lost job.

One of the photo shop owners recognizes Norbert on the street with a group of his school friends and reports him to the school authorities. The Chaplain quizzes the students about counterfeit bills, prompting Norbert to leave the classroom. At home, his mother advises him to deny everything and goes to the photo shop with a bribe to settle the matter.

Lucien, the photo shop assistant who testified falsely, is revealed to have been marking up prices and pocketing the difference. He is fired, but secretly keeps a copy of the shop's keys. He and two friends rob the shop's safe and begin an ATM card skimming operation.

In need of money, Yvon acts as the driver of a getaway car for a bank robbery. The police foil the plan and arrest Yvon, who is tried and sentenced to three years in prison.

While imprisoned, Yvon learns of his daughter's death and his wife's decision to start a new life without him. He unsuccessfully attempts suicide.

Lucien and his accomplices are eventually arrested and sent to the same prison as Yvon. Lucien offers to include Yvon in a prison break, but Yvon refuses. Lucien proceeds with his escape plan, but Yvon and his cellmate hear commotion in the hallway indicating that Lucien has been caught.

After being released from prison, Yvon murders and robs a pair of hotel keepers. He is taken in by a kind woman over the objection of her father. Some time passes, and one night Yvon kills them along with others in their house with an axe.

Feeling cornered, Yvon goes to a cafe and confesses his crimes to a police officer. The confession leads to his arrest, ending the spree.